Hospice walk raises $20,000 for palliative care volunteer program

The Hike for Hospice walkers raise their arms in the air on the hike May 6 in Kentville. This year's hike raised $20,000 to go towards funding for the palliative care volunteer program. - Sara Ericsson

Hospice still on track to break ground this spring, says foundation member

KENTVILLE – Another year, another walk, and support is still strong for the Valley Hospice Foundation's annual Hike for Hospice, which raised $20,000 this year.

The hike was the foundation’s sixth annual and was held May 6 as other areas across Canada hiked for their own hospice foundations across the country to kick off the National Hospice Palliative Care Week.

The event has been a well-attended one since its inception, something foundation member Dale Sanford said is right on message with what palliative care provides to patients.

“It’s always really nice for us to get out and be among the people who are being served by the palliative care team. It puts us close to the bone again and reminds us how important the work is,” she said.

The dollars raised from this year’s event, which surpassed the foundation’s goal, will go towards supporting the Hospice Palliative Care Volunteer Program which runs extensive training programs to ensure volunteers are well-equipped to provide top level palliative care to patients.

The walk was also a celebration of the new residential hospice which is set to break ground for construction this spring.

The hospice has been designed to feature comforts people would have at home, and will be built with 10 private bedrooms that each open up to a wooded area near the hospital.

Foundation chair Diana Patterson emphasized the project’s success is the direct result of committed volunteers and engaged community members, who echo what palliative care is all about.

“The dedication and support shown by volunteers is one reason palliative care is so widely regarded as compassionate care,” she said, in a release.